ROAD CLOSURE AT CARNALWAY

A road closure will be in place from Carnalway Bridge, Brannockstown, back towards Carnalway Five Cross Roads, from Wednesday 9 September to Friday 11 September 2026, to facilitate road resurfacing. 

The diversion route will be signed, and local access will be provided. Road users are advised to expect some delays as a result of the works.

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BACK TO SCHOOL ROAD SAFETY PLEA

An Garda Síochána Kildare is urging road users to be careful as children return to school. Drivers are advised to slow down, stay alert, follow school wardens' directions, watch for children crossing, and give space to cyclists and pedestrians. 

Parking illegally or double parking is strictly prohibited. Parents should plan safe drop-off and collection points, avoid illegal parking, and discuss road safety with their children. 

A few extra seconds of care can significantly enhance safety.

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DEBRIS ON MOTORWAY WARNING

9.05am UPDATE: Cleared. 8.05am: A warning about debris on the M9 northbound between Kilcullen Services and the J2 to Kilcullen has been issued by Transport Infrastructure Ireland. The agency says motorists should drive with caution and reduce speed when approaching the hazard.

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ANIMALS ON M9 WARNING

Image: TII.

10.47 UPDATE: Traffic cleared. 9.40am: The M9 Northbound from Kilcullen is restricted at the moment due to animals on the road. The danger area is 3 kilometres north of Kilcullen.

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M9 collision incident cleared at lunchtime

Kilcullen experienced very heavy traffic through the morning, following a collision incident that closed the M9 northbound between J2 Kilcullen and the M9/M7 intersection.

The incident affected all three lanes and was only cleared a short time ago (1.20pm).

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Concerns about proposed speed limits

Concerns that the proposed 30km/h speed limit for Kilcullen doesn't go far enough are being raised by Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer, writes Brian Byrne. The new speed limits in urban and residential areas across the county are currently open to public consultation.

On the map of Kilcullen in the proposal documents, the new limit runs from Conroy Park to the north end of the bridge, leaving the rest of the road at 50km/h. Cllr O'Dwyer says she's asking for it to include from the bridge to the Logstown junction, and along the Logstown road to the end of the housing estate. "It should take in the main road by Nicholastown, on the south, too," she adds.

The councillor will be making those proposals in her own submission to the consultation, and suggests that other Kilcullen people who feel similarly should send in their own observations. "Quantity is important in these things," she told the Diary, adding that she is happy to advise anyone who needs help with a submission.

The Supplementary Special Speed Limit Byelaws for Built-Up and Urban areas 2026, as proposed, are open to public view until 28 August. They can be accessed online or at the Council’s offices in Naas. 

After public consultation, councillors will consider adopting the byelaws, with any amendments, and they will take effect upon adoption. 

The byelaws are detailed in five volumes of maps, each covering a different Municipal District. Submissions can be made online in accordance with the Department of Transportation Guidelines 2025.

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Suspicious device at Melon Hill dealt with by controlled explosions

Roadblock at Silliott Hill was subsequently extended further towards Naas. Image: Tracey O'Dwyer.

8.25pm UPDATE: The road to Naas between the Link Park in Kilcullen and the Stephenstown cross roads has just been reopened following an alert over a possible explosive threat, writes Brian Byrne. The Army EOD unit carried out two controlled explosions on an item at Brownstown, just beyond the Melon Hill Road junction and near the derelict 18th century Brownstown House. It's understood that the suspicious object was an old cannon ball.

The alert was raised earlier today by two young men who came across a suspicious device and notified the gardai.

The Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team from the Army Ordnance Corps, who deal with all such issues in the state, were on site since mid-afternoon. They assessed the situation as potentially dangerous, and the original Garda cordon was extended.

Several time-frames for the reopening of the road passed this evening before the road was reopened.

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30km/h speed limits proposed by Council

Image: KCC.

All Kilcullen housing estates that are taken in charge by KCC, and the main street from Conroy Park to the Market Square entrance north of the bridge, will be subject to a 30km/h speed limit under proposals being considered by Kildare County Council, writes Brian Byrne. The limit would also apply on the R413 west as far as Castlemartin gates and east as far as the top entrance of the Valley Park.

The Supplementary Special Speed Limit Byelaws for Built-Up and Urban areas 2026, as proposed, are now open to public view until 28 August, as part of a consultation process. They can be accessed online or at the Council’s offices in Naas. 

After public consultation, the Elected Members will consider adopting the byelaws, possibly with amendments, and they will take effect upon adoption. 

The byelaws are detailed in five volumes of maps, each covering a different Municipal District. Submissions can be made online in accordance with the Department of Transportation Guidelines 2025.

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M7 night-time closures next week

Image: Google Maps.

Night-time closures of the eastbound M7, between junctions 9a and 9, will take place from Tuesday 4 August to Monday 10 August, to facilitate resurfacing works.

The closures will be between 10pm and 6am. Diversions will be signposted. 

Emergency access and restricted Local Access will be maintained

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Road closure Mile Mill-Grangemore on Monday

A reminder that the R‑413 will be closed TODAY, Monday, 13 July 2026, between Mile Mill Cross and Grangemore, Brannockstown, during the day for surface dressing works. 

A signed diversion will be in place, local access maintained, and motorists should expect some delays.

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Councillor will continue to work for M9 exit ramp to Newbridge

M9 J11/1 doesn't bring traffic to Newbridge or M7 south.

Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer says she will continue to work towards getting official consideration for a new exit ramp off the M9 motorway, to better serve traffic coming from the south-east to access Newbridge and the M7 south, writes Brian Byrne. Her comment follows a less-than-optimistic response to a motion at the recent Kildare-Newbridge MD meeting requesting the council to seek an assessment for the facility by Transport Infrastructure Ireland.

The lack of the suggested link means that cars and commercial vehicles coming from the south-east on the M9 have to come through Kilcullen or along the Sunnyhill Road to access Newbridge and the M7 south, with consequences for traffic congestion and road safety. 

The officials' report on her motion noted that Newbridge already has two M7 motorway interchanges (J10 and J12), giving access from both directions. While the Kildare County Development Plan proposes studying improved traffic movements at the M7/M9 interchange (J11/1), this junction does not appear in current national plans or funding lists up to 2030, and the feasibility study for it is not funded.

Cllr O'Dwyer says that other councillors at the meeting voiced their support for her motion, but unfortunately, there was nobody from the Roads Department at the meeting to discuss it.

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Bus stop relocation and upgrade update

A bus at the stop in 1929.

The existing bus stop at Cross and Passion College in Kilcullen is under consideration for relocation and upgrading, local councillors have been told, writes Brian Byrne. The upgrade will include a shelter, if deemed feasible, as part of the upgrade.

The information was provided at a recent meeting of the Kildare-Newbridge MD, in response to a motion by Cllr Tom McDonnell that a shelter be provided at the existing stop.

The current bus stop opposite The Hideout has been a key community, people transport, and freight link since the 1920s.

At the same meeting, the councillor was told that, in response to another motion, the existing traffic calming measures in Moanbane Park housing estate will be assessed to determine if additional measures may be required.

READ: Bus stop to change with CPC building

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Pedestrian crossing assessment 'when resources available'

An assessment of the need for a pedestrian crossing at Nicholastown will be carried out 'when resources are available', writes Brian Byrne. Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer, who is seeking the crossing, was told that her request has been 'added to a list' of similar requests across the county.

Cllr O'Dwyer told the monthly meeting of the Kildare-Newbridge MD that the need for the crossing is 'growing more and more', for pedestrians on the Nicholastown side to be able to access the entrance to the community centre, all weather pitches and the GAA Field of Dreams, and the primary and secondary schools.

She noted that an access from the road was always in place to allow pedestrians get to and from the schools and the community centre. "It even has the little railing to prevent children from running out onto the road," she said. "It is a natural permeability route and should be formalised."

She welcomed the commitment to have it assessed for a proper crossing.

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Fresh push for pedestrian crossing at Nicholastown

The need for progress on a pedestrian crossing at Nicholastown is to come before the next Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District meeting, writes Brian Byrne. Cllr Tracey O’Dwyer has submitted a motion asking that the council schedule a Section 38 process for the installation of a crossing opposite the Nicholastown and Conroy Park estates, to facilitate pedestrian access to the community centre and the community walkway at the Field of Dreams.

Under the Road Traffic Act 1994, a Section 38 procedure allows a local authority to introduce traffic calming and minor road improvement measures where these are considered necessary in the interests of the safety and convenience of road users.

At the recent AGM of Kilcullen Community Action, Nicholastown resident Eoin Houlihan described the location as “lethal”, saying that cars and trucks are going at high speeds, especially in the morning. "It’s terrifying," he said. "It’s not safe — there are a lot of kids crossing.”

At that meeting, Cllr O'Dwyer said there had already been requests for action in the area. She said a crossing was warranted, and while there was a council commitment in principle to provide one and other traffic-calming measures, it's a matter of finding funding.

If passed, the motion would mark an important next step in moving the proposal into the formal statutory process required before works can proceed.

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Discussion on Kilcullen bike rack

Image: Google.

The placement of a proposed bicycle parking rack in Kilcullen was discussed at the recent Annual General Meeting of Kilcullen Community Action, writes Brian Byrne. The meeting heard that the council has already procured a rack, but arrangements regarding its installation are yet to be finalised. 

Councillor Tracey O'Dwyer said that the location being considered is near the traffic lights, but with the council's current priorities focused on central Kilcullen, she isn't sure if the bike rack will be installed this year. "It's also about money. But they do want to do it."

She noted that the location is also near the bus stop and facilitates passive surveillance of the area.

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Traffic warden issuing fines in Kilcullen

Enforcement of parking regulations at the new layout in downtown Kilcullen must be through a combination of traffic warden and Garda traffic policing, the recent Kilcullen Community Action AGM heard, writes Brian Byrne. The matter arose during a discussion about motorists who had parked on the recently completed footpaths. 

Eoin Houlihan suggested to the meeting that extra bollards could be installed near the pedestrian access points to discourage motorists from using them to get onto the footpath. 

Cllr Tracey O’Dwyer told the meeting that the council’s traffic warden was visiting the town every week and is issuing fines. “I know, because I’m getting the calls about them,” she said, adding that, while expensive, if extra bollards are needed, they will be provided. It was noted that footpath parking incidents were mainly happening in the evenings, when there was no traffic warden around. 

Dangerous and bad parking at pinch points on Main Street was also discussed. Antoinette Buckley reported one recent occasion when cars were parked so badly that a truck had great difficulty in getting through. 

The need for a pedestrian crossing at Nicholastown was also raised by Eoin Houlihan, who described the situation there as 'lethal', with lots of children needing to cross the road to the GAA campus. Cllr O'Dwyer said a request for a crossing had been considered by the council, along with town gates traffic calming. The council had confirmed it was warranted. "There is a commitment to do it, but it's down to funding."

READ: Tidy Towns gold medal a defining milestone - KCA AGM 

READ: KCA financial position is good 

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Nice job. Pity about the drivers

A nice job is almost finished at the Market Square and generally in downtown Kilcullen. Making getting in and out of Riverside a much smoother affair. 

Unfortunately, there seem to be some unsighted drivers around, as two of the new bollards were bashed the other night. One on the Market Square pedestrian island, the other near the bridge.

Get a grip, people. Preferably on your steering wheels.

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